An assessment of the knowledge and practice of Lassa fever prevention in bong county, Liberia

Lassa fever is endemic to West Africa. It is a zoonotic disease first described in the 1950’s in Sierra Leone but was not recognized until 1969. It causes over five thousand (5000) deaths annually the world over. In Liberia there is an annual increase of the Lassa fever cases reported at the only Lassa fever treatment center, the Phebe Hospital, in Suakoko District, Bong County. Lassa fever is a challenge to the health of the people as a result of limited knowledge of the disease. The researcher has identified the Phebe Community in Suakoko District, Bong County as a case study because of the proximity of the community to the only treatment center. This case study revealed that 8% of the target population of one thousand four hundred and ten (1410) residents has knowledge of Lassa fever and its prevention. The research further revealed that the educational level of the respondents is a significant determining factor for the limited knowledge of the disease. Of the highly educated people (college level) sampled in this research study, 42.70% is knowledgeable of the disease. A major contributing factor to the prevalence of the disease in Liberia is the lack of community health awareness of the disease. This research proved it through the statistics gathered from the Phebe Community on public health awareness. Only about 0.7 % of the sample size indicated that there was some form of awareness carried out in the Phebe Community, but could not even identify who conducted the public health awareness and how many times was said activity carried out in the community.